For students

Reference letters

What follows is who I can write for, how to ask, and what to send. Reading it first makes the letter I write a better one.

Who I can write for

I write letters for students I have taught or supervised and whose work I can speak to concretely. In practice that means you took one of my courses and did well in it, wrote a thesis under my supervision, or worked with me as a research assistant.

If none of those apply, anything I write will be thin. A specific letter from someone who knows your work will serve you considerably better than a general one from me.

How to ask

Email me at lukas.hensel@gsm.pku.edu.cn with “Reference request” in the subject line, at least two weeks before your earliest deadline. Tell me what you are applying for, the deadline for each letter, and how it is submitted — a portal, an email address, or a file you upload yourself.

What to send with the request

• CV
  Current version
• Transcript
  An unofficial copy is fine
• Letter of motivation
  A draft is fine — I need to see how you are describing yourself
• Anything to highlight
  A paper you wrote for me, a project, an award, or context the rest of the file does not show

What happens then

I will tell you within a few days whether I can write. If I do not think I can write you a strong letter I will say so rather than send a lukewarm one, which is the better outcome for you. Once I have agreed, a single reminder as the deadline approaches is always welcome.